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Outage Restoration Maturity Model (ORMM)

While electric, gas, and water utility companies have an admirable record for restoring services following major outage events, the utility industries currently focuses on reliability metrics such as the SAIDI and CAIFI standards used by electric utilities, lacking a framework to consistently measure and improve restoration capabilities before an outage. The Outage Restoration Maturity Model (ORMM) was developed by and for utility companies as a tool for capability assessment and improvement planning. Using the ORMM, utilities can benchmark their internal outage restoration maturity and also compare their current capabilities to industry best practices.

Please click here for a free download of the latest ORMM worksheet and the implementation guide, or keep reading for an overview. You may reach us at ormm@avineon.com with questions related to downloading or applying the model.

The Maturity Score

The ORMM quantifies outage restoration capability as a score of 0-500. It promotes objectivity and consistency by assessing a utility’s capability as illustrated below.

The Model

The ORMM identifies core focus areas and functions vital to preparing for and responding to outage events. It establishes a vocabulary of definitions, characteristics, and business functions to assess and score a utility’s maturity level rating.

Restoration

The execution of process and functional areas during the life cycle of an outage restoration effort requires utilities to review damage areas, deploy resources and materials, and manage those resources throughout the restoration timeline. The ORMM identifies the focus areas and functions needed for an efficient response to an outage as they relate to a utility.

Applying The Model

Applying the ORMM to an individual utility’s practice is a three step process:

Step 1: Select the focus areas relevant to the utility. (Note: This may vary by the nature and frequency of emergencies faced by the utility, applicable regulations, and prevailing rate structure.)

Step 2: Assess the functions within the selected focus areas on a scale of 0 to 3:

0 = The function is not relevant to the utility.

1 = The function is generally understood and executed on an as-needed basis but may not be documented.

2 = The function is well-defined and documented, and the metrics to assess its successful execution are defined.

3 = The metrics associated with the execution of the function are collected, analyzed, and used for continuous improvement.

The above table is a partial example of applying the ORMM to a utility that has well-defined procedures and plans, but is weak in areas of communication and training. After reviewing these three focus areas, this utility might want to implement new practices to improve emergency role assignments, storm training, and periodic reviews of its emergency plan.

This is only a representative example of the complete ORMM. For a more detailed guide to applying the ORMM, please click below: